Important Links

Stand4KidsNM: This community group is based in Albuquerque. We are parents, teachers, students and citizens fighting the reforms from the central part of New Mexico. Join our conversation. Learn what teachers and parents are saying about New Mexico’s reforms. Ask questions. Get answers. Take action.

Shout4NMteachers: A positive, upbeat page to give a “Shout Out” to your favorite teachers. Included are fun quotes, articles, “shout outs” to let our NM teachers know they are loved.

NM Refuse the Tests: Parents, you have many questions about these new state reforms. Yes! You can refuse the Standards-Based Assessments and other standardized tests in New Mexico. State law says that schools must administer a test to all students. That’s for the schools and districts. However, there are currently two ways that parents can keep their children from participating in these unnecessary, harmful and poorly utilized tests. Read about your options and rights here. And visit the group on Facebook.

TNT: Teaching Not Testing: This Las Cruces group is doing a lot of work in the southern part of the state to inform parents about reforms.

PASS New Mexico: People Against the Standardization of Students is based out of Las Cruces and is another community of parents, teachers and administrators fighting reforms in the southern part of the state. You’ll find great links and resources at this web site and at the group’s Facebook page.

New High School Graduation Checklist: For high school parents, read what the PED is requiring of your student in order to earn a diploma. Keep checking, because the PED updates this with new changes pretty regularly.

Value Added Model: For parents and teachers, this is the basis for school and teacher effectiveness grades. See how the NM Public Education Department explains it. And keep in mind after this presentation to the Legislative Finance Committee in summer 2014, the mastermind behind this sham math model resigned and went back to California. It should also be noted that the American Statistical Association that the VAM is a sham.

Diane Ravitch: One of the leaders in the anti-reform movement, Ms. Ravitch’s insights and expertise are a help for understanding why our public schools are being “reformed” and what states across the nation are doing to fight those reforms.

ALEC – American Legislative Exchange Council– Do you want to know where New Mexico’s A to F legislation came from? This group — ALEC — is rewriting laws that benefit America’s wealthiest and will ensure the collapse of our public schools and the foundation of our democracy.

Find out more about ALEC and whether N.M. lawmakers are on its list of members here.